Vermont officials tried to prevent highway fatalities in 2012 by urging drivers to slow down, buckle up and not drive under the influence.

Written by

Larry Copeland
| USA Today

Road deaths in the U.S. rose 5.3 percent last year to 34,080, the first year-over-year increase in traffic fatalities since 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The jump had been expected as more people are taking to the roadways as the economy improves. Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration shows that vehicle miles traveled in 2012 increased by 9.1 billion miles - a 0.3 percent rise. The fatality rate - which is number of deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled - is projected to rise to 1.16 from 1.1.